The design of several types of anchorages and mooring systems for marine installations is predicated upon the accurate calculation of the vertical pullout capacity of those anchorage systems. Involved in the solution of the vertical pullout capacity of embedment anchorages are the engineering properties of the confining soil; the duration of the loading period; and depth, size and shape of the anchor flukes. The purpose of this testing program was to investigate the behavior of anchor flukes of several different geometries and sizes in a very loose, saturated sand. It was desired to determine which, if any, of the flukes provided the maximum vertical pullout capacity under static loading conditions, and whether any size effects upon pullout capacity existed. Flat and skewed flukes of square, circular and rectangular shape and 55, 110 and 220 square inches in projected area were tested in an outdoor test facility of concrete. Full-section and semi-spacial models were tested in the laboratory for visual observation of the mode of failure. (Author).

The investigation considers the vertical pullout capacity of marine anchors embedded in sand by vibration. Small size anchors were inserted to various depths ranging between 2 feet and 6 feet in a flooded sand soil and load tested for vertical holding capacities. The anchors were tested in a large scale outdoor test bin. For insertion, the anchors were attached to the lower end of a rigid pipe and vibrated into place by means of a vibrator unti attached to the upper end.

The purpose of this investigation was to experimentally measure and then to evaluate the influence, if any, of different loading conditions on the vertical holding capacity of marine anchors embedded in sand and in clay. Small and medium scale indoor laboratory tests and outdoor field tests in a specially constructed tank facility were conducted. The predictions for the holding capacity for anchors in clay and in sand in the shallow mechanism of failure and also for anchors in clay in the deep mechanism, when subjected to static loadings, are found to be in good agreement with cited previous formulas. (Author).